Well done to Tyk Side Project Fund winner, Codecrafters.io

Paul Kuruvilla, a self-taught programmer with a background in mechanical engineering, won the Tyk Side Project Fund for his project Codecrafters.io, which aims to fill a gap in the education space for intermediate to advanced programmers by offering a hands-on, community-driven learning experience. Inspired by his experience as an Engineering Manager at Shuttl, where he conducted developer training using a "Build your own X" format, Paul launched Codecrafters in February 2020 with challenges like "Build Your Own Redis," and has since added challenges for Docker and Git. Despite challenges in time management and user engagement, Codecrafters has grown by incorporating community contributions and using platforms like Reddit to attract users, while emphasizing the importance of expert feedback and peer competition in the learning process. Paul's project was validated through initial success at Shuttl and the creation of a publicly available web-app, and he advises aspiring side project developers to focus on the core idea and build a supportive community rather than striving for perfection from the start.